When people think about depression, they automatically seem to think something is wrong with you and you –in turn- become a social leper. Unless of coarse you already where one, but that isn't the point. The point is how little people seem to understand the ever-growing anomaly that is depression. They seem to look on it as a choice instead of the chemical imbalance in the brain it actually is. Of coarse someone with depression isn't going to willingly ask for help, I mean come on we're teenagers. Since when do we willingly ask for help on anything?
It also really doesn't help matters that the subject really isn't addressed all that much in schools. While schools do make an effort to inform students about problems such as school shootings and drugs, there really isn't that much information given out on teen depression –which considering its growing numbers it probably should be. – And how much it impacts not only the lives of the one suffering from it, but the lives of their friends and family as well. Which also explains why most teenagers are in fact idiots. I don't mean it in the sense that we're not smart. (Yes I am including myself in the idiot factor.) In fact individually all people are smart, however when put in a group we become frantic and panicky, it also doesn't help that we're teenagers and for some reason seem to be naturally drawn to drama.
Speaking of drama, with how much of it goes on in high school it's no wonder some people turn to self-mutilation, I mean if you add it on to problems at home and with your friends and even emotional conflicts, it's really not that odd even if it is wrong –which it is-. Really, look at it from someone with depression's shoes. There life keeps going without there consent, problems at home are affecting school work, and bad grades make home worse, There life is spinning out of control and they just can't keep it bottled up.
So instead they let it out one little drop at a time, it stings but that doesn't matter. It's the only pain that seems to be under there control. But what nobody seems to realize is that in reality it controls them. The longer someone suffers from depression, the worse it gets and -in some cases- the deeper they cut. Even if at the time it seems to be helping, when they eventually get real help, whether it be in the form of a friend to talk to or the oh so colorful assortment of pills that eventually bring you back down to the original playing field, the scars from that dark mindset will never go away. I don't say this to be heartless, and other people's opinions may not agree with mine at all. I just don't think sugarcoating something that can have such an impact on a person's life is the right thing to do. Then again, I'm not an expert.